Caption Contest
 

I admit that I did not see last Sunday's episode, but drugs do appear to be possible:

http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com...142&story=6990

aV

Petty, but Fun
 

Caption Contest
 

Funny you should mention this (pictures of protestors/crowds etc). In Chicago, groups of local democrats are being organized go to Wisconsin for campaigning. Every saturday morning, a bunch of guys show up and get on busses and they go to Wisconsin.

Some people I know in Chicago were thinking of going and filing ["filming"? -- t.s.] these guys, their cars, and the busses at the departure point. Speculation is that some of these people may be campaigning on city or county time. Its happened before, numerous times. The thinking is more along the lines of, hey, this would make great evidence if these people are actually doing something wrong as we suspect.

Similarly, lawbreaking has been known to occur disproportionately at union picket lines, but who wants to keep the riot squad permanently deployed? Much easier to just keep a film to document the evidence. Its not like the strikers are wearing hoodies.

OTOH, I can't remember too many times hearing about politial speeches by politicians ending in violence. Except for that West Virginia republican whose kids keep getting mugged by democratic union worker supporters when they hold up protest signs.

Anyhoo, sure there's a rational justification for this. Its easier to take movies of groups of known and suspected would-be criminals before they commit a crime, than to keep the riot squads on them 24/7. This is efficient government at its best.

Do they film democratic politicians when they are speaking?

Caption Contest
 

Back in high school, I was on the newspaper staff and interviewed a dozen or so teen mothers for an article on teen pregnancy.

Of the girls I talked to, most claimed to have believed some story or another about why they couldn't get pregnant ("can't on your first time", "I'll pull out before," etc.). But most disturbing was the 15 year old who (it appeared to me) genuinely did not understand at the time of her baby's conception that she was in fact have "sex." She was, admittedly, not the brightest bulb in the drawer, but she had also never been explained the basic functioning of the human body. She knew what she was doing with her boyfriend was "bad" but not that it was going to lead to her having a baby. My school system, at the time, had basic sex ed, but allowed parents to opt their kids out, which her parents had. I understand from my mother that sex ed was recently taken out completely.

I'll agree to take sex ed out of schools when the parents can prove they've adequately instructed their children on such basic matters of living.

The story, detailing the life of a 12 year old mother and a 17 year old mother each trying to balance baby and school, with a sidebar on birth control methods, was killed by the principal. Why my crazy journalism teacher thought the school would let me run it is another story, but whatever.

Caption Contest
 

It's commonly understood in sociological and anthropological studies that people buy into it because they need to answer the question of why we die. If life on this Earth is all there is, and after that we all become worm food, then what's the point of it all? The Creator myth gives our death a reason, and, by implication, our life a reason.

Caption Contest
 

Edwin Meese?

Caption Contest
 

Well, you see, the best way to deal with this sort of fellow, since reminding him of the separation of church and State will fall on deaf ears, is the following:

March down to the next council meeting with a large pitcher of margaritas and some plastic cups. When this fellow concludes his rant, announce that you're having a backyard potluck brunch on Sunday with free bloody marys. Then offer the entire room a margarita.

Petty, but Fun
 

Jeezus. And people wonder why I can't bring myself to vote for these jackasses.

Petty, but Fun
 

FWIW, I think the criticism is wrong here. And I think the calls on Congress to not get shots unless they fall into high risk are bad as well -- as the doctor quoted by NPR put it, these folks shake a lot of hands, and are also prone to visit nursing homes and hospitals. They're walking disease vectors.

send me your $$$
 

[stp]

Caption Contest
 

I donno know about you, but I want it to be over when its over. If I wake up somewhere else and there's a whole new gig I have to deal with, I'm not going to be happy.

I'm just peachy with the notion of there being two states: consciousness and unconsciousness. I've faced serious illness. There's a comfort in thinking "Well, fuck it. Its done at least. The endorphins rush in, you halluciante and then the lights go out. If there's something else, you'll find out quickly. If not, selah."

All religion derives from fear - its the hedge against death. My favorite argument from the pious is "You cannot disprove the existence of God - therefore, my view is as valid as your atheism." Well, I can't disprove the existence of the Loch Ness Monster or that aliens visit the planet regularly either. Then, of course, the pious lecture me about "faith".

I believe in some all creating force on the logical premise that something had to start this whole gig. But I ain't crazy enough or arrogant enough to think its got some compact with mankind or there's some great repository of souls waiting for me when I finally die in a fiery wreck talking on my cell phone while trying to eat a burrito and navigate through rush hour traffic.

Caption Contest
 

Petty, but Fun
 

If W had any integrity he would resign.

Caption Contest
 

Ten years ago, my favorite radio station didn't have to beep out the word "shit" or similar words appearing in some songs. Now they do it regularly. It's not a major intrusion in my life, but, then again, the people who forced the change didn't listen to the Clash, Pearl Jam, or Eric Burdon then and they don't now.

I find it ridiculous that a movie shown on a basic cable station has to be hacked up but if it's on HBO, it's not censored.

Five years ago, it would have been inconcievable that Jose Padilla would be locked up in prison for months without access to counsel or without being charged with a crime. I realize this isn't my daily life. But then, Jose isn't free to answer this question for himself.

Petty, but Fun
 

I agree with the members of Congress, but I'm not so certain that congressional staffers should be able to get to the front of the 'flu shot line as well.